Our documented trail of the Lower Eastern Shore Spencers begins with
siblings Benjamin C. Spencer (B 1788 D 1876), John Spencer (B 3-30-1783
D 7-22-1860), William Spencer, Sophia Spencer Ellis and a sister who married
Charles Tarr.(1) Benjamin and John Spencer are shown to be living in Somerset
and Worcester by the Census of 1800 through 1870 and much information is
available about their families.

The Family of Benjamin C. Spencer

Benjamin C. Spencer (B 1788 D 1876) was married to Mary Taylor (B 1795)
October 25, 1819.(2) From the Somerset County Census of 1850(3) they are
living in the Dublin District.

House Hold #966 Benjamin Spencer 62 years old farmer Mary Spencer 56
years old Sarah Spencer 25 years old (Sally?) Matilda Spencer 23 years
old Samuel Spencer 18 years old Benjamin Spencer 17 years old William Spencer
15 years old James Spencer 10 years old Rosey Spencer 14 years old Henrietta
Spencer 12 years old

The Dublin District of Somerset County was adjacent to the Pocomoke
River (the dividing line between the Counties) and directly across the
river from Pocomoke City (then called Newtown). The 1877 Atlas of Somerset,
Wicomico and Worcester Counties, Maryland shows the Estate of B. Spencer
just north of Pocomoke City (Newtown) and west of Costons Station. The
Somerset County Census of 1860(4) finds the family of Benjamin Spencer
again in the Dublin District.

Benjamin Spencer 72 year old male , Mary Spencer 65 year old female,
born MD Sally E. Spencer 35 year old female, born MD Benjamin Spencer 27
year old male , born MD William Spencer 24 year old male , born MD Roseanna
H. Spencer 22 year old female, born MD Henrietta F. Spencer 21 year old
female, born MD James T. Spencer 20 year old male , born MD

The 1870 census of Worcester County shows that the family has moved
to the town of Snow Hill, about twelve miles up the Pocomoke River from
Pocomoke City (Newtown). Benjamin Spencer's family inherited most of the
estate of his brother John Spencer and the family moved from Somerset County
sometime in the 1860's. There were several Spencers families in District
2 at the time of the 1870 Census.

A daughter who was not listed in the 1860 Somerset County census was
Matilda Spencer. Matilda appears in the Worcester County Census of 1860
living in the Snow Hill District with John Spencer, her uncle. A very good
assumption is that since he was very old and his immediate family was deceased,
she moved in to take care of him some time in 1850.

Matilda Spencer's will filed in the Somerset county courthouse September
8, 1860(5). Apparently she died shortly after her uncle John Spencer. Her
will was written with the flair of the time. Some extracts are as follows:

"In the name of God Almighty, I, Matilda Spencer of Somerset county
in the state of Maryland being of sick and weak in body, of sound and disposing
mind, memory and understanding; considering the certainty of death and
the uncertainty of the time thereof......"

Matilda Spencer left to the Methodist-Episcopal church in Snow Hill
the amount of $100, "...to support the gospel of said church...". She also
left another $100 to the Presbyterian church of Snow Hill to do the same.
The remainder of Matilda Spencers estate was split one third each between
the sisters Sally Elizabeth Spencer, Rosetta Harriett Spencer and Henrietta
Frances Spencer.

Rosetta H. Spencer (B 6/23/1846 D 11/6/1885) is buried in Salem Methodist
Church Cemetery, Clarke Ave., in Pocomoke City, Maryland. Worcester County
Court records list the will of Rosa H. Spencer filed 11/9/1885, bond filed
11/14/1885 and administrator was her brother Benjamin Spencer. Rosetta's
name is sometimes found also as Rosey and Rosa. Some extracts follow.

"In the name of God Amen, I, Rosa H. Spencer of Worcester County and
being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind, memory and
understanding, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of
the time thereof...

"...to my sister Henrietta Spencer I give and bequeath my interest in
the home and lot where I live in the town of Pocomoke city. To my sisters
Esther Milbourne and Pricilla [sic] Bonneville, I bequeath each $100, To
Eva Stevenson, daughter of Clarence and Reese [or Rose?] Stevenson, I give
$50. To my brother Benjamin Spencer, one hundred dollars, to my brother
James Spencer two hundred and fifty dollars. To my sister Sallie Spencer,
I give and bequeath the residue of my estate. I also desire to appoint
my brother Benjamin Spencer Executor of my last Will in testimony ......fourth
day of November 1885."

Sallie Spencer (B 1825 D 1905) was the oldest of the children of Benjamin
Spencer that have been found so far. Her will is filed in the Worcester
County Court House, September 9, 1905 and administrator was her brother
Benjamin Spencer(6). Some extracts follow.

The residue of my estate both personal and real I give and bequeath
one half to my brother Benjamin Spencer the other half to be equally divided
among the children o my deceased brother James Spencer, viz, Charles Spencer,
Walter Spencer, George P. Spencer, Dolly Spencer and Winnie L. Spencer.

Lastly I appoint my brother Benjamin Spencer to the sole exec....

witness.....F. H. Dryden, T. F. Bonneville, James P. Blaine."

William Spencer (B 1835 D 1864) has his will in Somerset County Court
records(7). His brother Benjamin Spencer was administrator. William had
received two negro slaves, Charles and Eliza from his uncle John Spencers
estate. They were valued at $1050.00 and were subtracted from the value
in his account. Since the Emancipation Proclamation had be signed in 1862
the slaves probably could not be legal property. There is no information
on his marital status.

James T. Spencer (B 1840) died some between 1886 and 1905. His children
were Charles Spencer, Walter Spencer, George P. Spencer, Dolly Spencer,
and Winnie L. Spencer.

Samuel Spencer (B 1832) is elusive.

The son, Benjamin Spencer (B 12/25/1832 D 5/23/1908), is buried in the
Methodist-Episcopal Church Cemetery in Snow Hill along with his wife Henrietta
S. Barnes (B 3/30/1846 D 7/11/1886). From marriage records they were married
August 20, 1861(8). Henrietta S. Barnes was the daughter of Wheatley and
Elizabeth Barnes. The 1870 Census shows a Spencer child, Mabel Spencer
age 7, living with in their household. Why and Who did this child belong
to?

The obituary of Benjamin Spencer, the son, appeared in the Snow Hill
Democratic Messenger on May 30, 1908. It stated that he was the "last of
a family of fourteen". There were two other sisters not shown in the family
at the time of County Census Records.

Priscilla Spencer (B 1825 D 1901) was another
daughter of Benjamin and Mary Spencer. Priscilla married James Bonneville
October 26, 1847(9) and was living in his household at the time of the
1860 census. They had at least nine children.

Esther Milbourne was mentioned in the will of Rosetta Spencer as a sister.
There was no record of her in the Spencer families in the Census. She may
have been an older child who was married before the 1850 census.

Of the "family of fourteen" described in the younger Benjamin Spencer's
obituary only ten children are found at this time.

The Family of John Spencer

John Spencer was very wealthy compared to others listed in the census.
His grave stone in the Methodist Episcopal cemetery in Snow Hill shows
that he must have died just after the census was done in 1860. Tombstone
inscriptions read as follows:

The Maryland Mortality Schedules show the demise of John's daughter,
Margaret Spencer. She died in Worcester county in January of 1860 from
consumption. She was 17 years old.

John Spencer's will and bond filed 7/24/1860 in Worcester County. Executors
were Jno. R. Franklin and Wm. Bratten. Interesting parts are extracted.

"In the name of God Amen, I John Spencer of Worcester county in the
state of Maryland ....

"First I give and devise to my nephew Benjamin Spencer son of my brother
Benjamin, the Hutchinson farm, which I purchased of Joseph Hutchinson...

"Second, I give and devise to my nephew William Spencer son of my brother
Benjamin, my swamp [?] farm which I purchased of Dr. Thomas R. Spence ...

"Third. I give and devise to my nephew James Spencer, son of my brother
Benjamin Spencer , the farm near Snow Hill on which I reside, consisting
of all of the land which I purchased of William C. Mumford and the Rev.
Youngham Smith...

"Fourth. I give and devise to my nephew John Ellis the farm on the western
side of Pocomoke river known as the Martin Farm which I purchased of Walter
P. Snow and Ephriam K. Wilson trustees to the estate of Lemuel R. Smith,
deceased,...the line between the said farm and the Hayward Place which
I have hereinafter devised to my niece Matilda Spencer as the same was
claimed by the said Samuel R. Smith and as it is now designated by a line
of marked trees.

"Fifth. I give and devise to my niece Matilda Spencer daughter of my
brother Benjamin the farm which I purchased of Robert Selby know as the
Hayward place ...

"Sixth. I devise the farm which I purchased of the Hon. Ara Spence as
he sold by my executor......divided between the following children of my
brother Benjamin...William, Benjamin, James, Matilda, Sally, Rosetta and
Henrietta Spencer share and share alike.

"Seventh. I give and bequeath to my nephew William Tarr son of Charles
two hundred dollars.

"Eighth. I give and bequeath to Frances Webb daughter of Charles Tarr
$200.

"Ninth. I give and bequeath to Allen D. Spencer, son of my Brother William
$500.

"Tenth. I give and bequeath to Maria Bratten wife of Noah Bratten, Frances
Bonnewell wife of James Bonnewell to Ester Miller, Rosetta Spencer and
Henrietta Spencer all the children of my brother Benjamin each the sum
of two hundred dollars.

"Eleventh. I give and bequeath to Sally Spencer daughter of by brother
Benjamin $200.

"Fifteenth. I give and bequeath to my nephew Benjamin Spencer son of
my brother Benjamin, my negros Stephen and Bob.

"Sixteenth. I give to William Spencer son of my brother Benjamin my
negroes Charles and Eliza.

"Seventeenth. I give to James Spencer son of my brother Benjamin my
negroes George and Hester.

"Eighteenth. The residue of my negroes I give and bequeath to my four
nieces Matilda, Sally, Rosetta and Henrietta Spencer the daughters of my
brother Benjamin to be divided as nearly equally between them as may be
by William Bratten and John R. Franklin who are empowered to choose a third
in case they disagree."

(1)Relations verified by the Will of John Spencer, Worcester County,
Maryland, liber T.T. No. 8 p.300.